Safety swimming sleeve



March 15, 1938. v v CRQCKETT 2,111,358

SAFETY SWIMMING- SLEEVE Filed May 25, 1935 Patented Mar. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFECE 3 Claims.

This invention relates in general to the art of safety devices and relates more particularly to an improved assisting, protective and safety device for swimmers.

The diversions offered at beaches and waterfronts include in addition to swimming, the playing of hand-ball and other games. Children may find considerable amusement. playing in the sand but they are inclined to approach and enter the water. Swimmers, of considerable skill, often venture far out in the water. The likelihood to cramps is by no means rare. Unless a swimmer is protected by some safety device, even he, when the cramps overtake him is soon found to be helpless and likely to drown.

Accordingly it is the main object of this in- Vention to provide a safety device to protect swimmers who are out in deep water and there become afflicted with the cramps.

The main object of this invention is attained satisfactorily it has been found by the provision of an inflatable sleeve, which in the non-inflated condition snugly fits the forearm of the swimmer. The sleeve is provided with a valve which by its location and construction facilitates the immediate and expeditious inflation of the sleeve for protection purposes, through blowing with the mouth of the afllicted swimmer. This blowing up of the sleeve may aptly be done before the mouth and organs of exhalation are gripped by the later stages of the cramps.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a full consideration of the specification and of the accompanying drawing on which like characters of reference are used to designate the same or similar parts or elements throughout the various views.

Fig. 1 shows an arm of a swimmer with the safety swimming sleeve of tlLs invention applied to the forearm, and in inflated condition.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the swimming sleeve.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line I1I--III of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a top plan View of the safety swimming sleeve.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the swimming sleeve and shows one form of the novel and cooperating essential valve for carrying out the main object of this invention.

Fig. 6 is a section View taken on a diametrical line in the circular valve member shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 shows another form of valve member through the use of which the main object of this invention may also be carried. out.

Fig. 8 shows a slightly modified form of valve member also common to this invention.

Referring to Fig. 1 it is seen that the invention includes a sleeve I, preferably of rubber. The sleeve I consists of an inner tubular member 2 which is formed to snugly receive the forearm of the swimmer, and an outer tubular member 3. If two members of rubber, as depicted, form the sleeve, they may be united or vulcanized together at the wrist end 4 and at the end 5 adjacent the elbow of the individual to whom the sleeve is to be applied. In order to accommodate bending of the arm the edge at the elbow end 5 of the sleeve may be cut at an angle inclining rearwardly, as shown, and this has the advantage of enhancing the inflatable capacity of the sleeve. The members 2 and 3 united or vulcanized, as described, provide an inflation chamber 8 for containing air. If the inflation chamber 6 is provided by two rubber tubular members then when the inflation chamber 6 is reduced to a minimum, or with the sleeve I in non-inflated condition, the outer member 3 may, possibly except as to desired variations in the stretch of the wall of this member at the time of inflation, conform generally to the form and size of the inner member 2. This would, however, not be true if the sleeve I were constituted of a material of which waterwings are made, in which case the member corresponding to the depicted rubber outer member 3 would normally be larger than the cooperating inner member.

With a sleeve i applied to each forearm of a swimmer the inventor utilizes a position at the side in each sleeve and adjacent the wrist end 5 for the provision of a novel cooperating valve 1. The chosen position is within easy reach of the swimmers mouth. The valve 'l facilitates inflation of the chamber 6 with air forced by the lung pressure of the swimmer. The valve, more fully to be described below, thus cooperates, through facilitating the filling of the chamber 5 with air, with the sleeve I providing the air chamber, to almost instantaneously protect a swimmer about to go under when afiiicted with the cramps, it being perceivable that at the early stages of an attack of cramps, a swimmer will be able to fill the chamber 5 with air for his subsequent protection when the cramps have completely demoralized his normal functions of supporting and sustaining himself in water.

The valve I includes an opening 8 suitably provided in the outer tubular member 3 and a companion valve member ii which preferably is of rubber, united to the outer member 3. The valve member 9 has a central (tapered projecting member I0 also, preferably of rubber, and of the shape shown, and may be provided as by molding it to the flat portion ll of the valve member. The flat portion. Il may be united to the outer member 3, as by vulcanizing over the areas bounded by the dash lines 52. This with the further provision of a channel or channels l3 in the fiat portion l I, which channels preferably terminate short of the base of the projecting member 10, assures at the start of blowing through the opening 8 with the mouth, a satisfactory retraction of the projecting member ID from its seating position against the wall defining the opening 8, to provide a desired flow of air along and through the channels I3 and into the chamber 6. Also, terminating the channels short of the base of the projecting member l0, assures of an annular portion in the flat portion H, which portion may be closely and tightly pressed against the registering surface in the outer member 3, by virtue of the normal form fitting characteristic of the sleeve I and the resulting close relation of the outer member 3 thereof to the forearm. This urged engagement of the annular portion, as explained, augmented by the fact that the flat portion H is united to the outer member 3 over the areas described, provides a secondary seal over the primary seal effected by the seating of the projecting member ID against the wall of the opening 8. Accordingly undesired entrance of water into the chamber 6 is precluded while the individual having the sleeves of this invention applied to his forearms is swimming.

Fig. 7 shows a valve member having a fiat portion 2| of rectangular shape, The channels 23 may run into the corners of the rectangle, but are otherwise as described for the channels I3 of the valve member 9 illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. The dash lines 22 similarly mark the boundaries of the areas over which the flat portion 2| may be united to the outer member 3.

Fig. 8 shows a valve member differing from the valve member of Fig. 7 principally only in that the channels 33 provided in the flat portion 3i are formed by angular cuts running from the corners. The boundaries of the areas which may be united to the outer member 3 are similarly depicted by the dash lines 32.

In order to provide passages for purposes of ventilation, between the forearm and the inner member 2 it may be formed with longitudinal corrugations 34 in its inner surface.

For the purpose of providing an opening for the insertion of a finger, to facilitate application of the sleeve onto the forearm, the sleeves may each be formed with a rubber ring opening 35 at the elbow end in the under surface, referred to Fig. 1, of the sleeve. Similarly to facilitate withdrawal of the sleeves they may each be provided with a rubber ring opening 36 at the wrist end in the upper surface of the sleeve.

From the foregoing detailed description it is seen that the novel safety swimming sleeve of this invention serves admirably as a safety device for swimmers and that it is not complicated. It is simple and easily and quickly applied and withdrawn by the adult swimmer himself. The novel valve, cooperating with the sleeve, has no metal elements to corrode, and therefore the invention in safety swimming sleeve may be used without regard as to whether the water is salt water or fresh water. The sleeves may be quickly inflated without any extra equipment to inflate. The sleeves may be made of rubber, say

about twice the thickness of the rubber of which the common toy balloons are made. Because of the simplicity of the sleeve and the cooperating valve, the invention involves a low cost of production and nothing of the safety swimming sleeve can get out of order. The invention can be universally used at lakes, ponds and rivers. The safety swimming sleeve of this invention is furthermore light in weight and can be folded up into a small bundle when not in use and when on sale. And also when on sale it can be contained in a small envelope or transparent container. It may be made form fitting and of different sizes. The safety swimming sleeve may be provided with any name or design blown in the rubber at the outer surface of the sleeve, or with any design or name stamped on said surface, if not of rubber, to additionally serve as an advertising medium,

Although the invention has been described above specifically as attaining the main object thereof by virtue of the novel cooperating valve facilitating blowing up the sleeve during times of distress of a swimmer, it is apparent that the invention may be applied to the forearms of children playing on the beach who at unnoticed times might venture into the water. If the eeves are inflated during such play protection would be afforded against injury to the children should they venture into the water. In this ancillary use the invention will be found to be sufiiciently fool-proof in that a child by itself could not readily withdraw the applied sleeves.

Further, even adults whose chief diversion might be swimming may conveniently have the safety swimming sleeves applied on their forearms even when they are playing on the beach or when they are out of the water. The corrugations 34, at such times, would allow of the desired ventilation of air between the forearms and the inner members of the safety swimming sleeves. They could comfortably, notwithstanding the applied sleeves, engage in rowing, paddling, beach ball, climbing or gymnastics.

Furthermore, especially if the two members 2 and 3 of the sleeve are united or vulcanized around at the ends, as described, and when the member 3 is concurrently designed for streamline configuration at the front and at the back, as depicted in Fig. 1, the invention may be carried in inflated condition by individuals while swimming without presenting or offering very serious paddling difliculties during the acts of extending the arms forward and rearward. In this case, in addition to protection, the safety swimming sleeve of this invention would serve to assist and aid the individual in his swimming. This use presents further and very desirable attributes of the invention. The safety swimming sleeve may, of course, be readily deflated by simply pushing inwardly on the projecting members It) of the novel valves of the swimming sleeve of this invention, to allow the escape of the air from the inflation chamber 6.

It is within the purview of this invention in safety swimming sleeve not to make it of the described inner and outer tubular members. Instead it may be constituted of a rubber sleeve or its equivalent, pulled over itself and united or vulcanized at the one end where the edges meet. Under this construction and for the purpose of effecting a somewhat sharp annular edge at the folded end, that end may advantageously be provided with tying elements distributed around the sleeve.

It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art to which the invention appertains.

It is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent:

1. A flexible member provided with an opening for the passage of air to either side thereof, and a non-metallic valve member comprising a flat portion of rubber and a rubber member secured to and directly projecting therefrom, said flat portion being provided with a plurality of channels opening into its outer edge and directed toward and closely approaching the base of said projecting member but leaving therebetween a solid annular portion tightly pressed against and retractible from the registering surface of said flexible member for secondary sealing purposes, portions outwardly removed from said annular portion and intermediate said channels, of said flat portion being united directly to said flexible member and this to points close to the base of the projecting member, said uniting facilitating a primary seal effected by the seating of the said projecting member against the wall defining the opening in the flexible member.

2. In an inflatable device of the class described, an inflatable flexible wall member provided with an opening, and a non-metallic valve member comprising a flat portion engaging with said flexible wall member and a member secured to and directly projecting from said flat portion, said flat portion being provided with a channel opening into its outer edge and directed toward and terminating close to the base of said projecting member, portions of said flat portion of the valve member being united directly to said flexible wall member and this to points close to the base of the projecting member, said projecting member sealing with the wall defining the opening in the flexible wall member.

3. In an inflatable device of the class described, an inflatable rubber member provided with an opening, and a non-metallic valve member comprising a flat portion of rubber of considerable extent and engaging with said inflatable member, and a member also of rubber secured to and directly projecting from said flat portion, said flat portion being provided with channels opening into its outer edge and directed toward and terminating close to the base of said projecting member, portions of said flat portion of the valve member being united directly to said inflatable rubber member and this to points close to the base of said projecting member, said projecting member sealing with the wall defining the opening in the inflatable rubber member.

VALENTINE VICTOR CROCKETT. 

